Chapter 97 The Trump Card The two faced off, swords drawn, their lips seemingly poisoned...
Bai Ye wore a nonchalant smile and said in a flat tone, "To be honest, my physical strength is probably my least noteworthy advantage."
She paused, her gaze falling on Bai Qingji's cheeks, slightly flushed from the fierce fight, "If you can't even beat me in my worst aspect, then we really don't need to fight anymore."
Bai Qingji was not angered by her dismissive words. Instead, a knowing smile flashed in his eyes, as if he had seen through some kind of truth.
“I understand!” she said with certainty. “You never used any magic from beginning to end. It’s not because you’re arrogant, but because your physical strength is your only asset.”
"Ah..." Bai spread his hands helplessly, "If thinking like this makes you feel better, I'm not unwilling to cooperate with you."
"To be honest, we don't have any deep-seated hatred between us. Apart from the fact that you had someone invite me to dinner, which is a minor grudge. You are also my mother's niece, and as your older cousin, I really shouldn't have been too harsh on you, my younger cousin."
"You're talking nonsense!" Bai Qingji's composure was shattered instantly by these words. She almost roared, "I'm the older sister!"
In her rage, she no longer suppressed her spiritual power, unleashing the full aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator. At the same time, an inexplicable aura emanated from her, forcing Bai to retreat and distance himself from her.
In the stands, Zhong Jiuli and Liu Xianyue exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Bloodline pressure!"
"It seems that Bai Qingji has inherited part of the Immortal Emperor's bloodline. With this bloodline's pressure, the little tiger is going to get a beating." Liu Xianyue was enjoying the spectacle.
Zhong Jiuli's gaze fell on Bai Ye, "His bloodline is impure, the little tiger should be able to withstand it."
In contrast to the calm demeanor of the two individuals, the young guests in the other stands cheered wildly.
"Young Master Bai!!!"
"Young Master Bai, look at me! I want to become your Daoist partner!!!"
One of the more uninhibited female cultivators even clutched her chest and cried out, "Ah~~~ Young Master Bai's imperial blood pressure is making my chest hurt!"
Before she could finish speaking, she immediately drew angry glares from a group of female cultivators around her and was met with a merciless chase and beating.
Bai Qingji stood calmly in the center of the field, listening to the overwhelming worship and shouts. Her eyes were filled with absolute confidence again. She said in a low voice, "Today, let your older sister teach you what the foundation of the Bai family's existence in the Nine Provinces truly is!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she stopped fighting Bai Ye physically. Instead, she raised her slender hand as if there was an invisible scepter in her palm and suddenly pointed it at Bai Ye.
In an instant, the world changed color.
As if divine punishment had descended, the once clear sky was instantly covered by thunderclouds. Electric snakes danced wildly in the rolling thunderclouds, and bolts of electricity, like giant pythons, lashed down on Bai Ye. The blinding lightning almost engulfed the entire training ground.
Bai stood calmly in place, letting the earth-shattering lightning bolts explode around her, crackling and sparking.
The lightning bolts that struck the hem of her clothes vanished without a trace, as if they had been absorbed.
Bai shook his head and chuckled, "So you spent all that time posing, preparing for this, and making such a fuss, just to summon a few little lightning bolts to tickle me?"
"Hmph, let's see how long you can keep up your stubbornness." Bai Qingji's face turned cold, and his hands quickly formed hand seals. As if summoned, the lightning in the sky frantically converged towards Bai Ye's location, eventually condensing into a vast lightning pillar that almost pierced through the heavens and earth.
Bai also sensed the terrifying aura contained within the lightning pillar. If it were an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, they would probably be annihilated on the spot by this lightning strike.
She felt she had been too merciful. Bai Qingji wanted to kill her the moment she made a move. They were both young masters, and she, the young chieftain of the White Tiger tribe, couldn't possibly be weaker than her.
"Playing with lightning? Then you're really going to lose. I was already playing with lightning when I was in the Golden Core stage." Bai Ye shouted in a low voice, her palm forming a black lightning bolt that floated quietly in her hand.
In the next instant, she dodged the towering pillar of lightning and struck in front of Bai Qingji.
"Shatter the darkness with thunder!" Bai shouted an extremely cheesy line, gripping the thunderbolt and pressing it towards Bai Qingji.
The result was beyond her expectations.
Her invincible and unstoppable Xuan Lei seemed to strike an invisible barrier when it reached Bai Qingji.
The black lightning ball exploded in front of Bai Qingji, without even harming a single hair on her head.
On the stands, some knowledgeable cultivators were so excited by this scene that they exclaimed, "It's the Immortal Emperor's Domain! It's the legendary Immortal Emperor's Domain that only the direct descendants of Immortal Emperors can awaken. It makes one immune to all worldly laws and all harm! I'm so lucky to have witnessed it with my own eyes!"
Bai's ears twitched slightly, and he heard the exclamation clearly.
She wasn't afraid; instead, she moved closer and curiously poked the invisible barrier in front of Bai Qingji with her finger. "Is it really true that you're immune to all magic? But I heard before that the number one genius of the Three Pure Ones Sect beat you up on the ground? Could it be a rumor?"
Bai Qingji sneered: "Good sister, you even believe such nonsense. It seems you are even more brainless than I thought."
As she spoke, she made a grasping motion in her palm, and a long sword radiating spiritual light appeared in her hand. The blade was snow-white, flowing with a faint blue light, and it looked like another divine weapon.
If Bai Qingji's previous hand-to-hand combat with Bai Ye only revealed a fraction of her fighting prowess, then now, wielding her sword, she finally displayed the brilliance of a peerless genius renowned throughout Baidi City.
As she drew her sword forward, her entire demeanor changed, like a peerless divine weapon unsheathed, its sharpness fully revealed and unstoppable.
The invisible sword intent was almost tangible, as if looking at her too much would cut one's soul with the sharp edge she exuded.
Even so, countless men and women in the stands still focused their almost obsessive gazes on her.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, anticipating the unparalleled brilliance of this most dazzling young woman of Baidi City when she gave it her all.
"Aren't you going to draw your sword?" Bai Qingji shouted, his released sword intent locking onto Bai Ye firmly. "If you don't draw your sword now, you'll miss your chance."
Sunlight fell on the snow-white blade, reflecting a dazzling light. A smile appeared in Bai's eyes. He untied the large black sword from his back, and with a slight hook of his toe, he lightly kicked the scabbard.
"Clang!"
The sound of a sword echoed through the sky as the heavy black sword soared into the air, leaving a trail of dark light before landing precisely in Bai Ye's palm.
With the sword in hand, Bai Ye's lazy aura vanished instantly. She gripped the hilt, the tip of the sword pointing directly at Bai Qingji: "That old lady told me before that the Bai family had no one left, but I didn't believe her."
Almost the instant she finished speaking, Bai Qingji moved.
With his body moving in unison with the blade, a solid blade of light, bright enough to rival the sun and moon, shot into the sky, slashing straight at Bai Ye's face.
Bai also slid to the side to avoid the blade's light, and at the same time, he slashed out with his sword in a backhand strike. This strike had no fancy movements, only the purest power and speed.
Bai Qingji also dodged the attack, their blades flashing and striking the protective array of the training ground.
The protective shield that had just been activated only lasted for a few breaths before it collapsed under the strain and shattered into countless streams of light.
A powerful energy surge swept towards the stands. Before the guests could even cry out in alarm, several elders of the Bai family changed their expressions and immediately flew forward, joining forces to set up an even thicker and higher-level protective shield, which once again enveloped the entire battlefield and blocked the violent energy surge.
Inside the training ground, the two were completely unaware of everything happening outside.
Their figures flashed past each other at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow, swords clashing and sparks flying.
During the stalemate, Bai Ye looked at Bai Qingji, who was so close to him, and said with a relaxed expression, "Later, after exchanging a few blows with those Bai family members who were afraid of getting beaten up, I started to believe it a bit. I really wondered if your Bai family was truly out of people?"
Bai Qingji exerted force with his wrist, pressing down on the blade and causing Bai Ye to lean back, her slender waist curving into a beautiful arc in the air.
She said coldly, "Whether my Bai family has members or not is none of your business, an outsider."
“Yes, it’s definitely not your turn.” Bai nodded frankly, then changed the subject, “But you’re not as bad as she makes you out to be. At least, you’re much stronger than those people.”
"My reputation is none of your business." A cold glint flashed in Bai Qingji's eyes, and his arm suddenly trembled, unleashing tremendous force through the blade, sending Bai Ye flying.
The two separated again. The hard rock surface of the training ground had completely cracked, and dust obscured their figures.
Bai Ye lowered his sword slightly and chuckled, "I really don't care about your Bai family, and I don't want to get involved in your messy affairs."
She raised her head, her eyes flashing with cold light, "But you, you shouldn't have dragged my mother into this. Now that you've harmed her, I'm bound to get involved in this mess with the Bai family!"
"My aunt is a member of the Bai family. What's wrong with her returning to the clan? You don't understand the foundation of the Immortal Emperor's family. Only by returning can she receive the best training." Bai Qingji replied coldly, slashing out with his long sword.
A series of cold, sharp blades, like an inverted Milky Way, rained down on Bai Ye.
Bai also swung his sword to counterattack, unleashing the Nine Styles of the Heavy Sword in succession. The sword light was extremely fierce. The unsealed Great Black was truly invincible.
She completely abandoned her defenses, ignoring the incoming blades, and simply kept swinging her sword. Under the dark sword light, no blade could get close to her.
"She is first and foremost Bai Shu, then my mother, and lastly a member of your Bai family," Bai Ye said angrily in a low voice. "If she wants to cultivate, if she wants to become an immortal, if she wants the moon in the sky, I will get it for her. It is none of your business to meddle, much less your business to imprison her."
The two women drew their swords at each other, their mouths seemingly poisoned, stabbing each other in the lungs.
What started as a mere three-tenths of anger escalated into a full ten-tenths during this heated verbal exchange.
Bai Qingji was equally enraged. Faced with Bai Ye's relentless attack, abandoning all defense and focusing solely on offense, her inherent pride surged up. She also stopped dodging, and the longsword in her hand shone brightly, its momentum becoming increasingly fierce.
In the center of the training ground, the two figures clashed again, and the flashing of swords and blades soared into the sky, completely engulfing their figures.
Only the loud clanging sounds of collisions continued incessantly.
The guests in the stands were on the edge of their seats, cheering loudly for the two fighters in the midst of their fierce battle. The cheers rose one wave after another, and the fight had truly reached its climax at this point.
Even the usually composed and stoic Old Madam Bai couldn't help but lean forward slightly, her gaze fixed on the two figures locked in a fierce battle below.
There, the battle was not just between two young people, but also between the two most outstanding descendants of the Bai family.
The winner among them will surely take up the banner of the Bai family and become the next generation's successor to lead the family.
In the training ground, the scales of victory began to tip.
Bloodstains began to appear on Bai Ye's body. Bai Qingji's domain, which originated from the bloodline of the Immortal Emperor, was simply too shameless. Her attacks landed on that invisible barrier, but they could not shake it in the slightest. It was almost a futile effort.
But every strike Bai Qingji delivered was a real blow, requiring her to fight with all her might to defend herself.
"Boom!"
It was yet another clash of forces with no skill whatsoever; the shockwaves spread out, kicking up clouds of dust.
The two of them were sent flying backward by the enormous recoil.
Bai Qingji moved with the lightness of a swallow, her toes barely touching the ground, her posture composed and graceful.
Bai, however, tumbled several times in mid-air before barely managing to dissipate the immense force.
She raised her hand to wipe her slightly damp cheek, her fingertips stained with a touch of bright red.
"If we can't break through the defense, attacking is a waste of effort. How can we break through this tortoise-shell-like domain?" Bai frowned, pondering a solution.
Before the dust had settled, Bai Qingji's cool and confident voice pierced through the dust, resounding throughout the arena: "If this is all the skill you have, then the outcome of this contest is already decided."
Screams and cheers erupted once again from the stands, with almost everyone shouting Bai Qingji's name at the top of their lungs.
Anyone could see that the white-haired cultivator had already fallen into a disadvantageous position.
"I knew it! Young Master Bai is the undisputed number one in our White Emperor City!" A young cultivator shouted excitedly, his face flushed.
Qin Yanjing also silently watched the scene, her gaze following the figure that radiated dazzling brilliance, and murmured, "Qingji, you can definitely do it."
Zhong Jiuli was also watching Bai Ye offstage, looking at the glaring bloodstains on her face and her flamboyant red dress, which was becoming increasingly crimson as the bloodstains spread.
"What should we do, Zhong Jiuli? Your stinky tiger seems to be struggling. She can't handle that bloodline domain." Liu Xianyue's anxious voice came from the side.
Since the battle escalated, she couldn't sit still. She had long since crossed the bamboo curtain of the VIP area and was practically lying on the stands, craning her neck to look down.
"She will win," Zhong Jiuli said, repeating the same statement.
"Hey, Zhong Jiuli!" Liu Xianyue turned her head and glared at her, dissatisfied. "I know your little tiger has good talent and is a cultivation genius. But that young master Bai over there is also a top genius who has been nurtured by countless resources. How long has yours been cultivating? How can you compare them!"
She frowned, her eyes darting around, and with a look of "I have a good idea," she suggested, "How about we cover our faces, rush down now, grab the person, and run? It'll be quick and easy, and no one will recognize us. That way, no one will lose face."
Zhong Jiuli was speechless and said helplessly, "She came to Baidi City to find Bai Shu. If you kidnap her today, won't she still come knocking on your door tomorrow?"
"Isn't Bai Shu the daughter of the former young master of the Bai family? If she stayed in the Bai family, she wouldn't have a bad life, right? Why would she go and stay in that desolate mountain?" Liu Xianyue asked in confusion.
"She chose to leave the Bai family back then, naturally because she didn't like it here. How could someone truly be happy trapped in a place they despise, even if they had enough to eat and wear?"
Liu Xianyue pursed her lips and looked down again. As the smoke and dust dissipated, Bai Ye's figure was revealed.
She muttered softly, with a hint of heartache, "Luckily, this little tiger has thick skin, otherwise, if such a beautiful face were scarred, it wouldn't be so cute anymore."
Bai Ye's skin was indeed very thick. The bloodstains on her fingertips had not yet dried, and the originally bloody wound on her face had now healed to the point where only a red mark remained.
She carried the large black dog and looked at Bai Qingji, who stood proudly in the distance, seemingly confident of victory. "It seems everyone thinks you will win."
"No one needs to think so," Bai Qingji said confidently. "I'm destined to be the winner."
"Tsk tsk~" Bai said, shaking his head, "Our ancestors always said that an arrogant army is bound to be defeated!"
"Hmph, if you have any other tricks up your sleeve, just use them. If you keep holding back, don't cry when you lose. I don't have the patience to coax children." Bai Qingji sneered and appeared in front of Bai Ye in a flash.
At the same time, the long sword in her hand, trailing a faint blue light, slashed straight at Bai Ye's neck.
If this strike lands squarely, Bai will surely be decapitated.
But her reaction was also incredibly fast; almost the instant the other party appeared, she had already raised her sword to block.
With a clang, the sound of metal clashing rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.
"Getting this close to me will be a huge loss." Bai chuckled softly, her palm clenched as if holding a miniature universe, with nebulae swirling around it, beautiful and mysterious.
A dazzling golden star slowly emerged from the center of the vortex.
The moment this massive star appeared, the surrounding space began to distort and collapse. An invisible pressure descended upon this martial arts arena, even suppressing the bloodline domains that were said to be impervious to all magic.
Bai Qingji's expression changed, his composure finally crumbling, and a hint of seriousness appeared in his eyes.
She made a decisive move, retreating instantly and creating a distance of hundreds of feet between herself and Bai Ye. "Is this the trump card you've been hiding for so long? The power of the stars, indeed something you can be proud of."
Bai shook his head: "You think too highly of yourself! Hide? Why would I need to hide? It's mainly because I've only ever used this to kill demonic beasts. I didn't want to kill you, so I was too embarrassed to use it."
Seeing Bai Qingji's increasingly unpleasant expression, she laughed even more unrestrainedly, "But now, your turtle shell is just too thick. I, your older sister, can't break through it. There's no other way but to unleash a powerful move to clear the field."
Finally, she proudly raised her chin and emphasized, "Oh, right, remember that, I'm the older sister!!!"
After saying that, Bai disappeared from the training ground.
"Void Escape Technique?" Bai Qingji's eyes showed undisguised surprise. Just how many trump cards did this wild child, who grew up outside, have hidden? He could even master such profound and unfathomable spatial laws.
But Bai didn't give her much time to think. Bai Qingji felt a strange fluctuation in the space in front of her, and the next moment, a fair, slender hand with distinct joints reached out from the void.
In that hand, he held a golden star that caused the space to tremble, a star that seemed capable of incinerating everything in the world!
The golden star, carrying a violent aura that could suppress everything, slammed down towards her face.
"Boom!"
A muffled thunderous sound exploded in the training ground.
Bai Qingji only had time to protect her cheeks before she was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, finally coming to a stop when she crashed into the protective light shield at the edge of the training ground.
Only then did the true fire of the sun contained within that golden star pour out, burning fiercely around her, making her appear like a true god of the sun.
Even so, Bai Qingji remained unharmed. Although the Immortal Emperor's bloodline domain trembled, it blocked all the true fire of the sun.
Outside the designated area, the martial arts arena suffered the consequences!
The terrifying heat instantly melted the hard rock, turning countless stones into scalding lava. Raging flames shot into the sky, transforming the entire training ground into a pool of lava.
The protective shield erected by the elders was shattered once again under the scorching heat of the sun's true fire.
The Grand Elder's expression changed, and he took a step forward, arriving above the martial arts arena. With a flick of his sleeve, a dazzling array flag shot out and quickly disappeared into various parts of the arena.
An even more robust protective array instantly rose up, blocking the terrifying heat wave that was spreading out.
Even though the Grand Elder was fast enough, many guests in the stands were still startled by the terrifying heat that was hitting them.
Among the crowd, a knowledgeable elder suddenly stood up and exclaimed in a trembling voice, "The power of the sun! That's the power of the sun, and the true fire of the sun! I've long heard that someone has obtained the inheritance of the Star Emperor. Could it be her?!"
"What? The inheritance of the Star Immortal Emperor?" Upon hearing this, the guest beside the old man slapped his thigh in shock and almost jumped up. "That Star Immortal Emperor who proved the Dao with the Star Body? No wonder her physique is so strong, enough to contend with Young Master Bai."
"Why is the Bai family so favored by Heaven?" another elder said with great emotion. "The Bai family are descendants of the Immortal Emperor, with a revered bloodline. Now, another descendant has been born who has obtained another supreme inheritance that leads directly to the Immortal Emperor's path... Is Heaven too kind to the Bai family?"
Similar comments were heard simultaneously in the other stands. Exclamations and whispers filled every corner.
All eyes were on the training ground, where only Bai Qingji stood.
All the onlookers saw was that the raging true fire of the sun was forcibly pushed back by her, falling downwards like flowing golden essence.
Bai Qingji stood in mid-air, her robes fluttering, regaining her composed and serene demeanor, as if the devastating attack had had no effect on her whatsoever.
"Is this all you can do, hiding and dodging?" Bai Qingji's gaze swept across the surroundings like lightning, his voice icy cold.
"No, my dear sister." Bai Ye's smiling voice rang out against her back. "I'm just waiting for you to recover slowly. I can't let you kill me right away, or the Bai family will have to hold a banquet right here."
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